Akrotiri

Located on Akrotiri Bay, close to Limassol, on the southern coast of Cyprus, Akrotiri (Greek: Ακρωτρι Turkish: Agrotur) is one of the two British sovereign base areas (officially "Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia) on the island.

Akrotiri is known as the "Western Sovereign Base Area" (WSBA) and incorporates the Akrotiri village district (including Limassol Salt Lake), and parts of 11 other village districts.

Within the base area are two main military bases:

RAF Akrotiri (an RAF station including an airfield)
Episkopi Cantonment: Current command center of British Forces Cyprus, and the Sovereign Base Areas Administration, which is the civilian authority for the base areas.

Although under British sovereignty, and having its own distinct legal system, the laws of the sovereign base areas, are, as far as possible, kept in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cyprus. As a result, when the Republic of Cyprus adopted the Euro at the start of 2008, the Sovereign Base Areas did too, making them the only territories under British sovereignty to have done so.

Additionally, in the treaty which established the base areas, Britain undertook not to develop the base areas except for military purposes, not to create customs posts with the rest of Cyprus, and not to set up or permit the establishment of industrial or commercial enterprises except insofar as those are connected with the military. As a result, the main economic activities within the base areas are connected to the military, or agriculture.

Today, there are approximately 7,500 British military personnel based in the Akrotiri Sovreign Base area, as well as approximately 17,000 Cypriots.

British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus

Key Facts about Akrotiri

Episkopi Bay is on the West coast of the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area

Here are some facts about Akrotiri:

Akrotiri is one of the two British sovereign base areas (officially "Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia) on the island of Cyprus.
Akrotiri is known as the "Western Sovereign Base Area" (WSBA) and incorporates the Akrotiri village district (including Limassol Salt Lake), and parts of 11 other village districts. Within the base area are two main British military bases: RAF Akrotiri and Episkopi Cantonment
The area of Akrotiri is approximately 98 square miles (254 km²).
The estimated population of Akrotiri is approximately 17,000 Cypriots, and about 7,500 British military personnel.
Akrotiri was established as a British overseas territory as a result of the 1960 treaty which granted independence to Cyprus.
Unlike other British dependent territories, because the Sovereign Base Areas are primarily military bases, the Administration reports to the Ministry of Defence in London.
The British Sovereign Base Areas have their own legal system that is distinct from that of the Republic of Cyprus and from that of the UK, however the laws are kept, as far as possible, the same as the laws of Cyprus.
When the Republic of Cyprus switched currency from the Cypriot pound to the Euro in 2008, the British Sovereign Base Areas followed suit. As a result, the Sovereign Base Areas are the only British territory to officially use the Euro.
During Operation Musketeer in 1956, RAF Akrotiri served as the main RAF base in the area for fighter, ground-attack, and photo reconnaissance aircraft.

Weather in Akrotiri

The climate in Akrotiri is classified as Mediterranean, or dry-summer subtropical.

For current weather information, we recommend:

BBC Weather forecast for Akrotiri, Cyprus

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